Burnham-on-Crouch U3A

May 2015

Taken from Yeats’ note : An old woodcutter told me that at one time he was cutting timber when he saw a girl with long hair picking nuts. When she was aware of him she was gone – he followed and looked for her but he never saw her again – never again ……..

Ann

The Song of Wandering Aengus

By William Butler Yeats

I went out to the hazel wood, Because a fire was in my head, And cut and peeled a hazel wand, And hooked a berry to a thread; And when white moths were on the wing, And moth-like stars were flickering out, I dropped the berry in a stream And caught a little silver trout.

When I had laid it on the floor I went to blow the fire a-flame, But something rustled on the floor, And someone called me by my name: It had become a glimmering girl With apple blossom in her hair Who called me by my name and ran And faded through the brightening air.

Though I am old with wandering Through hollow lands and hilly lands, I will find out where she has gone, And kiss her lips and take her hands; And walk among long dappled grass, And pluck till time and times are done, The silver apples of the moon, The golden apples of the sun.